Question

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infection (PANDAS) is a group of disorders recently recognized as a clinical entity.

1. Do you agree that PANDAS could be autoimmune? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think the rate of Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) is so high in young child?
3. Would you warn parents about PANDAS if they have a child with strep throat? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Yes . I agree that PANDAS are autoimmune disorder.Beacuse when an infection causes your immune system to attack your body's healthy cells, in this case, cells in the brain. The strep bacteria disguise themselves to look like normal cells .

• Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) is a common cause of infections involving the upper respiratory tract and skin in children .
• Group A streptococci are the most common bacterial cause of pharyngitis and primarily affect school-age children 5 to 15 years of age .
• All ages are susceptible to spread of the organism under crowded conditions, such as those at schools and military facilities.

• Yes . I will warn parents about PANDAS if child have strep throat.
• Because PANDAS is short for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections.
• A child may be diagnosed with PANDAS when Obsessive-compulsive disorder , tic disorder, or both suddenly appear following a streptococcal infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever.
• The symptoms of PANDAS start suddenly, about four to six weeks after a strep infection.
• They include behaviors similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome.